Improvement in knives



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN KNIVES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 56,998, dated August 7, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM SAUSSER, of Hannibal, in the county of Marion and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Knives; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description of the nature of my invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation, one side of the case or handle being removed and the springholder in place. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofV the single spring-holder. Fig. 3 is a view of the double spring-holder. Fig. 4 is an eleva Ation of the knife, one side of the case or handle being removed, one blade opened and the other closed. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the knife, one side of the case or handle removed, the spring-holder in place, one blade closed and the other nearly closed, being in position for taking the initial motion in removing the small blade. Fig. 6 is an elevation, one side of the case or handle removed and both blades open.

Similar letters 'of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This device consists (besides minor details of construction) in providing' a slot in the shank of a knifeblade, so that it can be inserted in or removed from the handle by sliding it off or on the usual pin or pivot upon which it turns, and this Without any change in the handle or exposure of the end of the pivot.

The slot in the blade-shank and the back spring are so formed as, in conjunction with the pressure of said spring upon the shank, to secure the blade in the handle in all positions, and thereby require for the removal or replacement of the blade in the handle either, first, the application of the spring-holder, consisting of a separate lever with its fulcrum and a hook on its end, which may tit a notch on the end of the back spring, by which said spring is sprung sufficiently to free the blade-shank from its pressure and permit its removal by sliding it off the blade-pivot; or, second, by so diminishing the Width of that part of the blade-shank between the pivot and back sprin g when closed as to lessen the spring-pressure sufficiently to remove the blade Without using the spring-holder.

The spring-holder C, single, as shown in Fig. 2, and double, as shown in Fig. 3, is a separate lever, with its fulcrum M, :and a hook on its end n, which may tit a notch on the end of back spring, B, Fig. 5, to be placed on the back of theV handle, so that by pressure on itsw end O the back spring is raised sufticiently to remove its pressure from the blade-shanlgso as to permit its removal by sliding it off the blade-pivot and out of the handle.

The shank of blade in my device admits of being so diminished in the part which is between the pivot and the back spring when the knife is shut `as to relieve it sufficiently from the spring-pressure to permit the removal of blade without using the spring holder, as shown in Fig. 6.

The slot g h, (through which the pivot passes in placing or displacing the blade,) formed in the shank of the blade, as shown in Figs. 1,4, 5, and 6, is of an angular or crooked` shape, and at the inner end of which the blade-shank plays upon the pivot.

When the blade is to be removed or inserted in the handle, the pivot enters at the outer end of this slot, and then passes through (rst toward the back spring and then nearly parallel with it) into its place at the terminus of slot. This is when the blade is nearly closed.

To secure the blade perfectlyin its position either open or shut in the handle, a slight knob is formed inside of the back spring, which the shank of blade touches when opened. From that point the inner surface of the back spring is slightly rounded to its end. This, in conjunction with a slight inclination .of the slot from its inner end, h, out of parallel with the back spring and converging toward the shoulder of shank, secures perfectly, by pressure of the back spring upon the shank, the blade in its position when shut.

I wish it distinctly understood that I do not limit myself to the particular form and construction herein described, as the same is merely given as a type whereby to illustrate Vthe principle of my invention, which might be carried out by employing a slot of diiferent shape in the knife-blade, and under different arrangements of the several parts, without de- 2. The spring-holder, fon the purpose departing' from the'essential idea of my invenscribed. y' tion. 3. The back spring, B, constructed andop- Having thus described my invention, what erating substantially as described. I claim as new therein, and desire to secure WM. SAUSSER. by Letters Patent, is Witnesses:

l. A knife-blade provided With a slot, sub- W. F. HALL, stantially as and for the purpose described. EDWARD H. KNIGHT. 

